Raising Strong Women

 

Ernst and Young, who seem to know a little bit about business, offered the following insight:

 

Ninty-six percent of female senior executives participated in sports as teenagers.

 

I don’t have the statistics to back up this statement, but I do feel like I have the insight to say that sports for young women is much more about the lessons learned than the games played.

 

It has been a real pleasure to see players grow in self confidence as they overcome the challenges presented to them through competition.  Picking yourself up after being dealt a set back is one of the many things that sports in general and fastpitch softball, in particular do. 

 

I’m sure all sports teach lessons in toughness and resilience, but you are going to have to work hard to convince me that Fastpitch softball isn’t the sport with the most lessons built in.

 

The game itself is built on failure. You have to learn to accept the fact that you are going to strike out, give up a home run or make an error. And you have to learn how to rebound from these setbacks all the time.  Over and over again.

 

So what’s the point of playing ball? 

 

You know the answer!

 

About the Author: Tory Acheson brings a wealth of knowledge to the Fastpitch Prep staff. He has coached at all levels of the game, including the last 25 years at the college level at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Tennessee Tech and Kennesaw State. He began his coaching career at the high school level spending 9 years Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wis. and is now working as a professional softball instructor.